TRAINS were cancelled on the Tilbury loop after a man was killed on the tracks this morning.

The man, who was in his 20s, walked onto the track near Stanford-le-Hope with his back to the oncoming c2c train.

The driver sounded his horn but was unable to avoid the accident, which happened at 5.50am today.

Sunita Kachala, a spokeswoman for British Transport Police, said a coroner's report was being prepared but it was not thought to be suspicious.

She said: "British Transport Police can confirm that a man in his late 20s was struck and killed on the tracks near to the bridge on the A13 and A1014.

"The train involved was the 5.13 service from Shoeburyness to London Fenchurch Street, which was travelling at approximately 60mph.

"The driver, who reported slowing down on the section of track, sounded his horn, but was unable to stop as the man walked on to the tracks with his back to the train."

The man was pronounced dead at the scene at 6.16am.

The line was handed back to Network Rail at 6.50am, but trains were cancelled along the Tilbury loop for about two hours after the accident.

Geraint Hughes, a c2c spokesman, said: "There was a fatality and it involved closure of the line for a period of time but the service is back to normal again now.

"I can't say anything about the circumstances involved at this stage but it did involve cancellation of some services on the Tilbury loop and we had to run replacement bus services to cover the gap."